Method and System For The Analysis Of Biological Material and Use Of Such A System

ABSTRACT

A method for the analysis, in particular for analysis by dynamic difference calorimetry (DSC), of biological material, in particular blood, urine, sweat or skin tissue, with the steps of: introduction of a sample with a patient&#39;s biological material onto a sensor of a measuring device; acquisition of measured values by means of the measuring device; sending the measured values to an evaluation device, which communicates with the measuring device; assessment of the patient&#39;s state of health with the aid of data structures characterizing the state of health on the basis of the measured values by means of the evaluation device, on which a first application software instance is performed; and visualization or audio-visualization of the state of health on a display. The present invention further creates a system for the analysis of biological material and a use of such a system.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method and a system for the analysis,in particular for analysis by dynamic difference calorimetry (DSC), ofbiological material, in particular blood, urine, sweat or skin tissue,as well as a use of such a system.

BACKGROUND

Analyses for detecting illnesses by means of dynamic differencecalorimetry (DSC) are typically used in the medical sector in research.The design of the required measurement equipment chiefly includesequipment which is common and can be used in research laboratories.Consequently, some components, for example measuring devices and powersupply, are designed immobile, since they are connected for example viaa power cable to a power supply of the building. In addition, the costof measurement equipment is at a level which institutions outsideresearch and private individuals are unable to afford and they thereforeforgo acquisition. As a result, waiting times for required analyses inparticular are very long and the capacities for analyses are very smallper unit of time.

Furthermore, investigations from research laboratories show thatillnesses can be detected, and the courses of illnesses can be monitoredwith the aid of analyses by means of dynamic difference calorimetry.Such analyses, compared to conventional blood analyses such as canalternatively be carried out, offer very much more detailed informationabout the state of health of a patient.

Devices and methods are known such as are typically used for researchpurposes.

US 2019/0003995 A1 describes a dynamic difference calorimeter device fordetecting illnesses and monitoring the therapeutic efficacy by detectingheat-resistant variants of proteins and/or metabolism products inbiological samples.

WO 2017/066800 A1 describes methods for characterizing and/or predictingrisks associated with a biological sample using thermal stabilityprofiles.

It is the problem of the present invention to create possibilities formore cost-effective, simpler, and quicker detection of illnesses.

SUMMARY

According to the invention, this problem is solved in each case by thesubject-matter of the independent claims.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a method is provided forthe analysis, in particular for analysis by dynamic differencecalorimetry (DSC), of biological material, in particular blood, urine,sweat or skin tissue. The method comprises the steps of introducing asample with a patient's biological material onto a sensor of a measuringdevice and acquiring measured values by means of the measuring device.Furthermore, the method comprises the steps of sending the measuredvalues to an evaluation device, which communicates with the measuringdevice, assessing the patient's state of health with the aid of datastructures characterizing the state of health on the basis of themeasured values by means of the evaluation device, on which a firstapplication software instance is performed, as well as visualization oraudio-visualization of the state of health on a display.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a system is provided forthe analysis, in particular for analysis by dynamic differencecalorimetry (DSC), of biological material, in particular blood, urine,sweat or skin tissue. The system comprises a measuring device, whichcomprises a sensor which contains a sample with a patient's biologicalmaterial, and which is designed to send measured values to an evaluationdevice. Furthermore, the system comprises an evaluation device whichcomprises a first application software instance and is designed toreceive the measured values and to assess the patient's state of healthwith the aid of data structures characterizing the state of health onthe basis of the measured values. Furthermore, the system comprises adisplay, which is designed to visualize or audio-visualize the state ofhealth.

According to a third aspect of the invention, a use of a systemaccording to the invention for the analysis of biological material isprovided.

An idea underlying the present invention consists in being able toquickly detect the state of health of patients and to monitor thecourses of the states of health in a detailed manner. The invention canserve both as an additional aid for doctors as well as an independentinstrument for monitoring the day-to-day state of health of privateindividuals. Since it is intended in particular for persons who are notspecially trained to have their state of health assessed without a longwaiting time and at an acceptable cost, the system proposed here isdesigned as a mobile system. Furthermore, the system or the componentsof the system can also be compatible with and/or connected to othercommunication-enabled objects, so that the system or the components ofthe system can for example be carried on the body.

Advantageous embodiments and developments emerge from the sub-claimsrelated back to the independent claims and from the description withreference to the figures.

According to an embodiment of the method, datasets with medicalinformation are taken into account in addition to the measured valueswhen the state of health is assessed. On the basis of comprehensivedatasets from other sources, which go beyond the measured data of theprimary method, the state of health can thus be assessed more precisely.Relevant datasets could be past medical information on the patientand/or data from other measurement methods, which the patient uses inaddition to the present method.

According to a development, the datasets comprise comparable measuredvalues of other patients and/or treatment measures applied to thecomparable measured values, and the datasets are transmitted to theevaluation device by communicative coupling of the evaluation devicewith a data-processing device. States of health validated by doctors orother trained personnel, which are based on comparable measured valuesof other patients, thus assist in obtaining more reliable informationduring the assessment of the state of health. Furthermore, treatmentmeasures can be recommended in a targeted manner since the latter havealready been successfully used for example with comparable measuredvalues.

According to a further development, the datasets comprise vitalparameters of the patient, in particular blood sugar level, bloodpressure, heart rate and suchlike, which are transmitted to theevaluation device by communicative coupling of the evaluation devicewith diagnostic devices, in particular blood sugar/blood pressuremeasuring devices or suchlike, and/or computer hardware, in particularfitness trackers, wherein the vital parameters are taken essentially atthe same time as the sample with biological material. For the assessmentof the state of health, use can thus be made of datasets which can betaken independently by persons not specially trained, usually by meansof devices easy to operate, and consequently enable a better overallassessment of the patient's state of health. The evaluation device canbe fed with datasets either continuously or by a respective release atthe corresponding devices.

According to a further embodiment of the method, the measuring deviceperforms a thermal analysis process for measuring a released or absorbedamount of heat of the biological material during a thermal process. Thestate of health of the patient can be assessed more precisely by theanalysis of biological material as a function of temperature since thethermal analysis is more detailed and therefore more informative thanthe standard blood analysis.

According to a further embodiment, the measuring device or the sensor isdisposed of after the assessment step. In this way, necessary hygieneguidelines can be complied with and errors due to the assessment of thestate of health by contaminated sensors or measuring devices can bereduced, since the sensor or the measuring device is always new and forexample separately packaged for each application and the protectivepackaging is not removed until the sensor or the measuring device isused.

According to a further embodiment, the evaluation device communicateswith a device which is preferably constituted as a mirror, a televisionand/or computer hardware, in particular PC, smart phone, smart watchand/or fitness tracker, via respective communication interfaces. Theevaluation device can thus retrieve from the device or transmit theretodatasets, in particular data memories available on the patient, such asa cloud or suchlike, or datasets stored on servers of clinics orhospitals, without itself being coupled communicatively with a server orsuchlike. The patient's personal data can thus be more easily protected.

According to a development, a second application software instancestored on the device or on a server is performed during the assessmentof the state of health, which enables a more precise assessment of thestate of health than the first application software instance of theevaluation device, and/or the state of health is visualized oraudio-visualized on a display of the device. By means of the secondapplication software instance, the application complexity and theinformation output can be increased compared to the first applicationinstance, so that trained personnel, such as doctors for example,additionally receive in a displayed form the measured values measured inthe measuring device and, on the basis thereof, can validate the stateof health assessed by the evaluation device or receive in a displayedform a more comprehensive assessment of the state of health thanuntrained personnel, who receive in a displayed form a lessdifferentiated assessment of the state of health on the basis of themeasured values which can scarcely be interpreted by them.

According to a further embodiment, the method also includes a step forcontrolling the communication-enabled equipment in the building, inparticular heating systems, building ventilation systems and/or alarms,in order to support treatment measures for the patient depending on theassessed state of health. The immediate surroundings of the patient, inparticular the room temperature, air humidity and/or brightness can thusautomatically be adapted to recommended treatment measures. Furthermore,by means of equipment in the building, reminders, or information, forexample for upcoming medication times, can be transmitted visuallyand/or acoustically to the patient.

According to an embodiment of the system, the evaluation device alsocomprises a communication interface, which is designed to establish acommunication connection between the evaluation device and an externalcommunication participant and to transmit datasets with medicalinformation from the external communication participant to theevaluation device for the assessment of the state of health. Theevaluation device is thus capable of assessing still more precisely thestate of health on the basis of additional datasets from the externalcommunication participant, which go beyond the measured data of theprimary method. Additional datasets could be past medical informationabout the patient and/or data from other measurement methods, which thepatient uses in addition to the present method.

According to a development of the system, the external communicationparticipant is constituted as a data-processing device and is coupledcommunicatively with the evaluation device via the communicationinterface, wherein the datasets include in particular comparablemeasured values of other patients and/or treatment measures applied tocomparable measured values. States of health validated by doctors orother trained personnel and stored on the data-processing device, whichare based on comparable measured values of other patients, can beavailable to the evaluation device in order to obtain more reliableinformation. Furthermore, treatment measures can be presented on thedisplay in a targeted manner since the latter have already beensuccessfully used for example with comparable measured values.

According to a further development of the system, the externalcommunication participant is constituted as a diagnostic device, inparticular as a blood sugar/blood pressure measuring device or suchlike,and/or as computer hardware, in particular as a fitness tracker, and iscommunicatively coupled with the evaluation device via the communicationinterface, wherein the datasets preferably comprise vital parameters ofthe patient, in particular blood sugar level, blood pressure, heart rateand suchlike. For the assessment of the state of health, datasets can beused for the evaluation device which can be acquired independently bypersons not specially trained, usually by means of devices easy tooperate, and consequently a better overall assessment of the patient'sstate of health is enabled. The evaluation device can be fed withdatasets either continuously or by the respective release to thecorresponding devices.

According to a further embodiment of the system, the measuring device isalso designed to enable a thermal analysis process for measuring areleased or absorbed amount of heat of the biological material during athermal process. By the fact of the measuring device is capable ofenabling the analysis of biological material as a function oftemperature, the state of health of the patient can be assessed moreprecisely, since the thermal analysis is more detailed and thereforemore informative than a standard blood analysis.

According to a further embodiment of the system, the measuring device orthe sensor is a disposable product. In this way, necessary hygieneguidelines can be complied with and errors due to the assessment of thestate of health by contaminated sensors or measuring devices can bereduced, since the sensor or the measuring device is always new and forexample separately packaged for each application and the protectivepackaging is not removed until the sensor or the measuring device isused.

According to a development of the system, the external communicationparticipant is preferably constituted as a mirror, a television, aserver and/or computer hardware, in particular PC, smart phone, smartwatch and/or fitness tracker, for the visualization oraudio-visualization of the state of health. The evaluation device isthus designed to retrieve from or transmit to the external communicationparticipant datasets stored in particular on servers of clinics orhospitals, without itself being coupled communicatively with a server orsuchlike. The patient's personal data can thus be more easily protected.

According to a further development of the system, the externalcommunication participant or a server coupled via the communicationinterface comprises a second application software instance, whichenables a more precise assessment of the state of health than the firstapplication software instance. The first application software instancecan thus be set up with regard to application complexity and informationoutput according to the specialist knowledge to be expected of the user.By means of the second application software instance, the applicationcomplexity and the information output can be increased compared to thefirst application software instance, so that measured values can also bedisplayed for trained personnel, such as doctors for example, and on thebasis thereof the assessed state of health can be validated or a morecomprehensive assessment of the state of health is displayed than foruntrained personnel, who are capable of a less differentiated assessmentof the state of health on the basis of the measured values which canscarcely be interpreted by them.

According to a further embodiment of the system, the measuring device,the evaluation device, and the display are at least partially surroundedby a housing, in particular a common housing. The system or at leastcomponents of the system are thus constituted mobile and portable.

The above embodiments and developments can, insofar as reasonable, becombined with one another arbitrarily. Further possible embodiments,developments and implementations of the invention also includecombinations not explicitly mentioned of features of the inventiondescribed above or in the following with respect to the examples ofembodiment. In particular, the specialist will also add individualaspects as improvements or supplements to the given basic form of thepresent invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is explained in greater detail below with the aidof examples of embodiment making reference to the appended figures ofthe drawings. In the figures:

FIG. 1 shows a flow chart of a method for the analysis, in particularfor analysis by dynamic difference calorimetry (DSC), of biologicalmaterial, in particular blood, urine, sweat or skin tissue, according toan example of embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a detail of a flow chart for a further example ofembodiment of the steps of sending the measured values and assessing thestate of health of the method according to the example of embodimentaccording to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic representation of a system for the analysis,in particular for analysis by dynamic difference calorimetry (DSC), ofbiological material, in particular blood, urine, sweat or skin tissue,according to an example of embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a diagrammatic side view of the measuring device from FIG.3 according to a further example of embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the figures of the drawing, identical elements, features, andcomponents having the same function or the same action—unless statedotherwise—are each provided with the same reference numbers.

Although specific embodiments and developments are represented anddescribed here, it will be preferable for the specialist that amultiplicity of alternative and/or similar embodiments can replace therepresented and described specific examples of embodiment, withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. This application isgenerally intended to cover all modifications or amendments to thespecific examples of embodiment described herein.

The appended figures are intended to provide a further understanding ofembodiments of the invention and, in combination with the description,serve to explain principles and concepts of the invention. Otherexamples of embodiment and many of the stated advantages emerge withregard to the drawings. The drawings are to be understood solely asdiagrammatic drawings and the elements of the drawings are notnecessarily represented true to scale with respect to one another.Direction-indicating terminology such as for example “above”, “below”,“left-hand”, “right-hand”, “over”, “under”, “horizontal”, “vertical”,“front”, “rear” and similar indications are used solely for the purposeof explanation and do not serve to limit the generality to specificembodiments as shown in the figures.

Dashed lines on the figures of the drawings illustrate that theconnections between the components connecting the dashed lines do notnecessarily have to have physical contact with one another but can as itwere be coupled together wireless.

FIG. 1 shows a flow chart of a method for the analysis, in particularfor analysis by dynamic difference calorimetry (DSC), of biologicalmaterial, in particular blood, urine, sweat or skin tissue of animal orhuman origin, according to an example of embodiment of the invention.The method contains the steps of introduction V1 of a sample 4,acquisition V2 of measured values, sending V3 the measured values to anevaluation device 5, assessment V4 of a patient's state of health andvisualization or audio-visualization V5 of the state of health.

The introduction V1 of a sample 4 with biological material of thepatient onto a sensor 3 of a measuring device 2 can be carried out in anumber of possible ways. The biological material can be introduced ontosensor 3 by the biological material being introduced directly ontosensor 3 or into a container 14, for example a crucible or suchlike,wherein container 14 makes contact with sensor 3 or is contained insensor 3.

For example, the patient's blood, as a biological material, which hasbeen extracted from the patient by means of a lancet or a similarpuncturing device, can be deposited on a chip, into container 14 ordirectly onto sensor 3. It is also conceivable that the puncturingdevice extracts blood automatically by release from the patient or atpredefined intervals, so that the latter can be introduced onto sensor3. Furthermore, sample 4 can be the patient's urine and introduced bymeans of a pipette, in particular a disposable pipette, onto sensor 3.Furthermore, sweat or skin tissue for example can be introduced as abiological material using suitable handling means or otherwise.Alternatively, the biological material can be introduced passively ontosensor 3, for example through provided openings/channels, which placethe biological material structurally by gravity onto sensor 3. Theselection of the biological material for analysis is not limited to thestated examples, but can comprise further biological materials, whichenable medically useful information to be provided concerning the stateof health of the patient. The measured values are acquired V2 inmeasuring device 2. For this purpose, measuring device 2 can preferablycarry out a thermal analysis process for measuring a released orabsorbed amount of heat of the biological material during a thermalprocess. This thermal analysis procedure can be carried out inparticular as dynamic difference calorimetry. Moreover, used can also bemade of thermogravimetry or a simultaneous thermal analysis, as a resultof which a measurement of the loss of mass of sample 4 and/or infraredspectroscopy of gases arising due to the heating of sample 4 ispossible. Furthermore, used can also be made of other methods ofanalysis known in the medical sector. Irrespective of the method ofanalysis used, the measured values can also comprise measured values ofa known reference 13, wherein reference 13 passes through the method ofanalysis in parallel with sample 4 and thus serves as a comparison.

In the step of sending V3 the measured values to evaluation device 5,which communicates with measuring device 2, the communication can beimplemented both wireless, for example by means of Bluetooth or WLAN, aswell as wire-bound, for example by means of LAN or USB. Evaluationdevice 5 and measuring device 2 can communicate either directly throughcorresponding communication interfaces or via a data-processing device,in particular a PC, a smart phone or comparable digital communicationdevices. The form of communication between measuring device 2 and thepossible data-processing device as well as between the possibledata-processing device and evaluation device 5 does not have to beidentical. Furthermore, evaluation device 5 can communicate viarespective communication interfaces with a device which is preferablyconstituted as a mirror, a television and/or computer hardware, inparticular PC, smart phone, smart watch and/or fitness tracker.

In a further step V4, the patient's state of health is assessed with theaid of data structures characterizing the state of health on the basisof the measured values by means of evaluation device 5, on which a firstapplication software instance 6 a is performed. The data structurescharacterizing the state of health can be specific data points, whichare recorded for example during the dynamic difference calorimetry.Sample 4 and reference 13, which are both analyzed in an essentiallyidentical container 14, for example a crucible, or on essentiallyidentical sensors 3, experience the same thermal effect due totemperature-control elements 12.

Due to the thermal capacity of sample 4 or reference 13 and exothermalor endothermal processes, such as for example melting or evaporation,temperature differences and therefore different measured values for thesame measured variable can occur between sample 4 and reference 13.Depending on the time at which differences between sample 4 andreference 13 occur in the analysis process and depending on how largethese differences turn out to be, data structures arise which areregarded as characteristic of a specific state of health.

Furthermore, during assessment V4 of the state of health, a secondapplication software instance 6 b stored on the device or on a servercan be performed, which enables a more precise assessment of the stateof health than first application software instance 6 a of evaluationdevice 5. Alternatively, or in addition, the state of the health can bevisualized or audio-visualized on a display of the device.

The configuration of application software instances 6 a, 6 b can bedifferentiated for example over four configuration levels. Outputpossibilities of application software instances 6 a, 6 b are adapted tothe user target groups to be expected, in particular to their medicalknowledge to be assumed. For example, four user target groups arementioned, private individuals without medical knowledge, chemists,family doctors and consultants, hospitals and other medical laboratoryinstitutions, the medical knowledge of which increases in the sequencein which they are named. On the basis of the four configuration levels,for the given user target group the assessed state of health of thepatient that is understandable to it can be visualized oraudio-visualized. It is thus possible to introduce sample 4 intomeasuring device 2 independently, for example at home, and to transmitthe measured values to an expert, such as a doctor for example, in thedistance, in order to use his more comprehensive output possibilities ofsecond application software instance 6 b, which is stored for example onhis server in the doctor's practice, and to use his specialistassessment in respect of the visualized state of health.

Optionally, measuring device 2 and/or sensor 3 can be disposed of afterthe step of assessment V4. A step of cleaning measuring device 2 orsensor 3 is thus unnecessary since sensor 3 or measuring device 2 isalways new and for example separately packaged for each application andthe protective packaging is not removed until sensor 3 or measuringdevice 2 is used.

Furthermore, the method comprises a visualization or audio-visualizationV5 of the assessed state of health and of the course of the state ofhealth over a specific past period of time on a display 7. The requiredinformation can be transmitted wire-bound or wireless from theevaluation device to display 7.

Moreover, the measured values and/or the assessed state of health can bestored locally on a data medium or on a server, in particular in acloud. Moreover, the measured values and/or the assessed state of healthcan be exchanged with doctors, clinics, chemists, hospitals,manufacturers of the devices which carry out the method according to theinvention, and/or other devices which carry out the method according tothe invention.

Furthermore, the method can comprise a step of controlling V6communication-enabled installations in the building, for example heatingsystems, ventilation systems in the building and/or alarms, in order tosupport treatment measures for the patient depending on the assessedstate of health.

FIG. 2 shows a detail of a flow chart for a further example ofembodiment of the steps of sending V3 the measured values and evaluationV4 of the state of health of the method according to the example ofembodiment according to FIG. 1.

In the example of embodiment according to FIG. 2, datasets with medicalinformation are taken into account in assessment V4 of the state ofhealth in addition to the measured values which are provided bymeasuring device 2, in order to provide the greatest possible number ofreference points for the characterizing data structures.

These datasets can comprise medical information from at least twodifferent areas. On the one hand, the datasets can comprise comparablemeasured values VM of other patients and/or treatment measures appliedto comparable measured values. The datasets can be transmitted toevaluation device 5 by communicative coupling V3.1 of evaluation device5 with a data-processing device, in particular a PC, a smart phone orcomparable digital communication devices. In addition, or alternatively,the datasets can comprise vital parameters VP of the patient, inparticular blood sugar level, blood pressure, heart rate or suchlike.For this purpose, evaluation device 5 is coupled communicatively V3.2.with diagnostic devices, in particular blood sugar/blood pressuremeasuring devices or suchlike, and/or computer hardware, in particularfitness trackers. The datasets can be transmitted to evaluation device 5via the existing coupling of evaluation device 5 with the diagnosticdevices, wherein vital parameters VP are essentially taken at the sametime as sample 4 with biological material. In addition, oralternatively, the medical information contained in the datasets can atleast partially be provided by manual input by the patient, for exampleinto evaluation device 5, into the data-processing device or thediagnostic device.

Alternatively, or in addition, datasets can also contain the patient'sdrinking and eating behavior, wherein this information can be inputtedby manual input by the patient into evaluation device 5 or via acoupling of the latter with a data-processing device, which containsthis information.

To this extent, evaluation device 5 can be coupled communicatively notonly with one of the mentioned external communication participants 9,i.e., the data-processing device or a diagnostic device, but also with aplurality of external communication participants 9, in particular thedata-processing device and the diagnostic devices as well as furtherexternal communication participants not explicitly mentioned.

FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic representation of a system 1 for theanalysis, in particular for analysis by dynamic difference calorimetry(DSC), of biological material, in particular blood, urine, sweat or skintissue of animal or human origin, according to an example of embodimentof the invention. System 1 comprises a measuring device 2, an evaluationdevice 5 and a display 7.

Measuring device 2 comprises a sensor 3, which contains a sample 4 withbiological material of a patient and is designed to send the measuredvalues to evaluation device 5.

For the introduction of sample 4 with biological material into sensor 3,sensor 3 can be constituted such that the biological material can beintroduced into measuring device 2 for example by means of a disposablepipette or other handling means. For the automatic acquisition of sample4 with biological material, in particular blood or sweat, measuringdevice 2 can comprise openings/channels, through which the biologicalmaterial can be placed on sensor 3, for example structurally by gravity.

Moreover, measuring device 2 can comprise a power supply (notrepresented), for example a local energy storage unit, an electronicconnection to an energy-carrying device, the energy source whereof isjointly used, or a mains connection. In examples of embodiment carriedon the body, the power supply can be provided by the use ofthermoelectric generators, which use the waste heat of the body togenerate energy.

In a further example of embodiment, measuring device 2 or sensor 3 is adisposable product. For this purpose, measuring device 2 or sensor 3 ispreferably designed compatible and interchangeable with other componentsof system 1, in particular with evaluation device 5.

Evaluation device 5 comprises a first application software instance 6 aand is designed to receive measured values and to assess the patient'sstate of health with the aid of data structures characterizing the stateof health on the basis of the measured values. First applicationsoftware instance 6 a can be stored for example as a software program orapplication on evaluation device 5.

The power supply of evaluation device 5 can correspond to the powersupply of measuring device 2. In examples of embodiment in whichmeasuring device 2 is coupled with evaluation device 5 electronically,electrically or in an otherwise energy-transferring manner, a powersupply can be provided for measuring device 2 and evaluation device 5.

Furthermore, evaluation device 5 can comprise a communication interface8, which is designed to establish a communication connection betweenevaluation device 5 and an external communication participant 9.Moreover, the communication interface is capable of transmittingdatasets with medical information from external communicationparticipant 9 to evaluation device 5 for the purpose of assessing thestate of health. External communication participant 9 can be constitutedat least in three different device categories, wherein the evaluationdevice is capable of establishing a communication connection to aplurality of external communication participants 9, in particular aplurality of different device categories.

For example, external communication participants 9 can be constituted asa data-processing device, in particular as a server or data memory, forexample of a clinic or hospital, and can be coupled communicatively withevaluation device 5 via communication interface 8, wherein the datasetscomprise in particular comparable measured values of other patientsand/or the treatment measures applied to comparable measured values.

Alternatively, or in addition, external communication participant 9 canbe constituted as a diagnostic device, in particular as a bloodsugar/blood pressure measuring device or suchlike, and/or as computerhardware, in particular as a fitness tracker. Furthermore, externalcommunication participant 9 can be coupled communicatively withevaluation device 5 via communication interface 8, wherein the datasetspreferably comprise vital parameters of the patient, in particular bloodsugar level, blood pressure, heart rate and suchlike.

Furthermore, external communication participant 9 can preferably beconstituted as a mirror, television, server and/or computer hardware, inparticular a PC, smart phone, smart watch and/or fitness tracker, forthe visualization or audio-visualization of the state of health.

The coupling of evaluation device 5 with external communicationparticipants 9 for the data transfer via respective communicationinterfaces 8 can be provided wire-bound, for example USB, LAN, orwireless, for example WLAN or Bluetooth. The coupling of evaluationdevice 5 with each of external communication participants 9 can beindividual and independent the nature of the coupling to other externalcommunication participants 9 and is not limited to one type of couplingbetween evaluation device 5 and external communication participants 9.

Alternatively, or in addition to first application software instance 6 aof evaluation device 5, external communication participant 9 or a servercoupled via communication interface 8 can comprise a second applicationsoftware instance 6 b, which enables a more precise assessment of thestate of health than first application software instance 6 a ofevaluation device 5. Application software instances 6 a, 6 b can be setup, as described in the example of embodiment according to FIG. 1, sothat four different application levels for the assessment andvisualization of the patient's state of health are possible depending onthe medical knowledge to be expected of the user target group.

Furthermore, measuring device 2, evaluation device 5 and display 7 canbe at least partially surrounded by a housing, in particular a commonhousing. Furthermore, components of system 1, in particular measuringdevice 2 and evaluation device 5, can be constituted such that system 1or components of system 1 are portable, in particular portable on thehuman body, and/or can be coupled with devices on the body.

FIG. 4 shows a diagrammatic side view of measuring device 2 from FIG. 3according to a further example of embodiment. This measuring device 2essentially corresponds to measuring device 2 such as it is described inthe example of embodiment according to FIG. 3.

Furthermore, measuring device 2 can be designed to enable a thermalanalysis method, in particular a dynamic difference calorimetry (DSC),for the measurement of a released or absorbed amount of heat of thebiological material during a thermal process. Measuring device 2 cancomprise for example temperature-control elements 12, by means of whichsample 4 and a reference 13 can be heated and/or cooled, for examplefrom −50° C. to approximately 250° C., preferably from room temperatureto approximately 100° C.

Moreover, the measuring device according to FIG. 4 can comprise acontrol 10 and a communication interface 11, wherein control 10 iselectronically connected to at least one of the components of measuringdevice 2. By means of control 10, temperature-control elements 12 forexample can be controlled according to the thermal analysis method usedand/or the communication with evaluation device 5 via communicationinterface 11.

In the preceding detailed description, various features for improvingthe stringency of the representation have been summarized in one or moreexamples. It should however be clear that the above description is onlyillustrative, but under no circumstances of a limiting nature. It servesto cover all the alternatives, modifications and equivalents of thevarious features and examples of embodiment. Many other examples will beimmediately and directly clear to the specialist on account of hisspecialist knowledge in view of the above description.

The examples of embodiment have been selected and described in order tobe able to represent in the best possible way the principles underlyingthe invention and the possible applications in practice. Specialists canthus modify and use the invention and its various examples of embodimentin the optimum manner in respect of the intended use. In the claims andthe description, the terms “containing” and “comprising” are used aslinguistically neutral terminology for the corresponding term“including”. Furthermore, a use of the term “a/an” is not in principleintended to eliminate a plurality of features and components thusdescribed.

1. A method for the analysis, in particular for analysis by dynamicdifference calorimetry, of biological material, in particular blood,urine, sweat or skin tissue, with the following steps: introduction of asample with a patient's biological material onto a sensor of a measuringdevice; acquisition of measured values by means of the measuring device;sending of the measured values to an evaluation device, whichcommunicates with the measuring device; assessment of the patient'sstate of health with the aid of data structures characterizing the stateof health on the basis of the measured values by means of the evaluationdevice, on which a first application software instance is performed; andvisualization or audio visualization of the state of health on adisplay.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein datasets withmedical information are also taken into account in addition to themeasured values in the assessment of the state of health.
 3. The methodaccording to claim 2, wherein the datasets comprise comparable measuredvalues of other patients and/or treatment measures applied to thecomparable measured values, and the datasets are transmitted to theevaluation device by communicative coupling of the evaluation devicewith a data-processing device.
 4. The method according to claim 2,wherein the datasets comprise vital parameters of the patient, inparticular blood sugar level, blood pressure, heart rate and suchlike,which are transmitted to the evaluation device by communicative couplingof the evaluation device with diagnostic devices, in particular bloodsugar/blood pressure measuring devices or suchlike, and/or computerhardware, in particular fitness trackers, wherein the vital parametersare taken essentially at the same time as the sample with biologicalmaterial.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the measuringdevice performs a thermal analysis process for measuring a released orabsorbed amount of heat of the biological material during a thermalprocess.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the measuringdevice or the sensor is disposed of after the step of assessment.
 7. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation device communicateswith a device which is preferably constituted as a mirror, a televisionand/or computer hardware, in particular PC, smart phone, smart watchand/or fitness tracker, via respective communication interfaces.
 8. Themethod according to claim 7, wherein a second application softwareinstance stored on the device or on a server is performed during theassessment of the state of health, which enables a more preciseassessment of the state of health than the first application softwareinstance of the evaluation device, and/or the state of health isvisualized or audio-visualized on a display of the device.
 9. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises a step ofcontrolling-) communication-enabled installations in the building, inparticular heating systems, ventilation systems in the building and/oralarms, in order to support treatment measures for the patient dependingon the assessed state of health.
 10. A system for the analysis, inparticular for analysis by dynamic difference calorimetry, of biologicalmaterial, in particular blood, urine, sweat or skin tissue, comprising:a measuring device, which includes a sensor which contains a sample witha patient's biological material and which is designed to send measuredvalues to an evaluation device; the evaluation device, which includes afirst application software instance and is designed to receive themeasured values and to assess the patient's state of health with the aidof data structures characterizing the state of health on the basis ofthe measured values; and a display, which is designed to visualize oraudio visualize the state of health.
 11. The system according to claim10, wherein the evaluation device also comprises a communicationinterface, which is designed to establish a communication connectionbetween the evaluation device and an external communication participantand to transmit datasets with medical information from the externalcommunication participant to the evaluation device for the assessment ofthe state of health.
 12. The system according to claim 11, wherein theexternal communication participant is constituted as a data-processingdevice and is coupled communicatively with the evaluation device via thecommunication interface, wherein the datasets include in particularcomparable measured values of other patients and/or treatment measuresapplied to comparable measured values.
 13. The system according to claim11, wherein the external communication participant is constituted as adiagnostic device, in particular as a blood sugar/blood pressuremeasuring device or suchlike, and/or as computer hardware, in particularas a fitness tracker, and is communicatively coupled with the evaluationdevice via the communication interface, wherein the datasets preferablyinclude vital parameters of the patient, in particular blood sugarlevel, blood pressure, heart rate and suchlike.
 14. The system accordingto claim 11, wherein the external communication participant ispreferably constituted as a mirror, a television, a server and/orcomputer hardware, in particular PC, smart phone, smart watch and/orfitness tracker, for the visualization or audio-visualization of thestate of health.
 15. The system according to claim 11, wherein theexternal communication participant or a server coupled via thecommunication interface includes a second application software instance,which enables a more precise assessment of the state of health than thefirst application software instance of the evaluation device.
 16. Thesystem according to claim 10, wherein the measuring device is furtherdesigned to enable a thermal analysis process for measuring a releasedor absorbed amount of heat of the biological material during a thermalprocess.
 17. The system according to claim 10, wherein the measuringdevice and/or the sensor are disposable products.
 18. The systemaccording to at claim 10, wherein the measuring device, the evaluationdevice and the display are at least partially surrounded by a housing,in particular a common housing.
 19. A use of a system according to claim10 for the analysis, in particular for analysis by dynamic differencecalorimetry, of biological material, in particular blood, urine, sweator skin tissue.